Cuban Chinese restaurants: only on the upper west side of Manhattan? If so, why?
My understanding is that there was a Chinese migration to Cuba in the past century and then to America. The Chinese brought from Cuba not only egg foo young but also fried plantain and opened restaurants all over the upper west side serving both. Does this phenomenon exist anywhere else in the U.S.? And if not, why not?
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5 Comments:
Many Chinese Cubans (there have been Chinese in Cuba since the mid 1800's) left Cuba during the revolution in the 1950's and for some reason formed a community in the Upper West Side. Found an excerpt that sums it up here: http://www.frommers.com/destinations/newyorkcity/D48502.html
Though I always thought egg foo young was just another American Chinese dish created in the 50's and 60's, no?
Cathy@noteatingoutinny at 3:06PM on 01/02/07
Funny, I associate Chinese Cuban restaurants with Chelsea. I don't know if there are any there now, as Chelsea has become yet another neighborhood that has sold its soul to gentrification. Mi Chinita was one, I think, 8th Avenue, 19th Street, maybe? Eating delicious, cheap ropa vieja while watching workers at the next table shelling peas and chopping vegetables beats merry hell out of all the pretentiously twaddlesome places that have opened in that neighborhood of late.
Barbara Hanson at 12:42PM on 01/03/07
There are lots of Chinese Cuban restaurants in Miami.
There are also lots of Chinese restauraurants owned by Cuban Chinese and lots of Cuban restaurants owned by Cuban Chinese.
You've got a lot of choices in Miami.
I agree with BaHa that 8th Ave in Chelsea once had a bunch of Chinese Cuban restaurants. Maybe there are still a couple? One? I'll check.
toolminer at 6:26PM on 01/04/07
To my knowledge Flor de Mayo is not Cuban it is Peruvian and Chinese.
The best and the first Cuban and Chinese Restaurants were the "ASIA" chain~ Asia Pearl, Asia #1, Asia East, Asia Imperial, Asia # 7, Asia Star, Asia Continental, Asia San Juan and Asia Puerto Rico. All of these were owned by one family.
Immigrated to Cuba from China and then to United States from Cuba.Came to America and acomplished his dreams.
There has been much of a decline in the Cuban Chinese Restaurants and it is very sad.
I know when the last ASIA restaurant was sold, None of the children at the time wanted to continue the chain. Much Regret lays here. But one day it may start all over again :)
rudaco at 11:50PM on 06/12/07
There really aren't that many actual Cuban Chinese places left. La Caridad 78 is the only one on UWS that I know of.
http://offthebroiler.wordpress.com/2006/06/01/nyc-dining-la-caridad-78/
jperlow at 5:40PM on 06/13/07